I think I’ve gotten my 200th email titled “Are you ready for summer?” In case I’m not, they’re sure to offer me many special deals to help me get ready. All a 50 percent off all swimsuits sale does is remind me that I’m 100 percent not ready to be in a swimsuit yet, and am not likely to be ready anytime soon.

But, still, I ask myself, “Am I ready?” And the answer is, resoundingly, “YES!”This year has been much more chaotic than usual, with school changes for the kids, and yet another one on the horizon next year for G, and the transition to middle school for A. Trying to juggle two school calendars, our regular itinerary, and all the usual household chores has really beaten us all down this year, and one thing is clear, we are MORE than ready for summer. But, what is also apparent to everyone in our family is that we need a break, and as such, we are going to try to do things a little differently this summer.We are going start by cutting back on some activities. While baseball is going to take us through most of June, and soccer starts in August, July is going to be as free and clear as we can make it. While it’s driving me crazy that the kids won’t be swimming competitively this summer, after a long winter season, I think they are due for a few lazy afternoons just hanging out with friends at the local pool.We are going to jump back on the fresh fruit and vegetable train as soon as possible. These last few weeks of school have been full of evening events, ceremonies and late nights as field trips and other school activities ran overtime.We’ve been eating entirely too much banquet food or calling out for a pizza. When G comments that he can’t look at another chicken finger, it’s definitely time to get back to a healthier menu. We’ve signed up for the CSA farm box again this year, and the kids are eagerly awaiting the first one’s arrival.Books, books and more books. With everyone finally reading on their own, it seems like the perfect summer to dig into reading. Junie B. Jones has captured E’s attention. I’m rounding up all the Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid for G, and trying to find something that A hasn’t already read. Lately, he’s been dipping into some Jules Verne, and I think “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” might be a good workout for his brain.We will have a few days at the beach over the course of the summer. That’s where I need to go to recharge my own battery, and summer wouldn’t be summer without a few slices of boardwalk pizza, but for our “big” vacation this year, we are heading off on a family camping trip with some dear friends that we just don’t get to see enough.The kids are already making plans for fishing, canoeing, catching fireflies, and other grand adventures that will involve a lot of old-fashioned fun and a lot of dirt. There is a rumor that they will be bunking in the “kids” cabin, and leaving us adults to fend for ourselves. We will also be spending several days in the wilderness with no electricity, hot water or cellphone service.I can’t say that I’m thrilled about those prospects, but I am looking forward to late night chats around the campfire, coupled with a few glasses of wine.I’ve promised to let the kids each plan one day this summer. From the minute we get up in the morning, until we go to bed at night, one of them will be the boss. We’re still laying some ground rules and determining a budget for their day, but I’m already thrilled about the ideas they are throwing out. Not one of them has mentioned playing video games all day as an option!From minor league baseball games, to picnics with friends, to a night at the drive-in, to hitting up some different parks and historic sites, they’ve got some great ideas. This has been an ongoing dinner table conversation (the few times we’ve been able to sit down to dinner) and I’ve started keeping a notebook handy to jot down their ideas.As I write all this down, it seems like my plans to not make plans are taking on a life of their own, but in reality, this is a much more pared-down schedule than we are used to having for the summer. The kids will attend a camp or two, and have their music lessons, but as I look at my calendar, I’m surprised to see many days in a row that are absolutely free and clear.I’m sure those days will fill up with activities, but I’m more likely to be filling in what we did AFTER the fact, journal-style, rather than making copious plans before anything. As they say, woman plans, and God laughs, but I’m hoping that this summer, we are the ones who are doing lots of free-range, spontaneous laughing.Liz Pinkey is a contributing writer to the Times News. Her column appears weekly in our Saturday feature section.